Platformed migrant narrativesmediated (self) representations of migration on social media

Resumo

This dissertation explores the ways in which social media platforms shape migratory narratives created by different actors, including generalist content creators, political figures, immigrants, and immigrant influencers from Latin America. The study centers on two countries that have become preferred destinations for migrants: The United States and Spain. The platforms of interest are Instagram and TikTok because of their popularity and visuality as well as the (self)representative configurations they enable. The overarching research question that underpins this dissertation is: How are narratives about immigration shaped and built on social media platforms? To respond to this question, five supporting research questions are set forth: (1) How do the sociotechnical configurations of social media shape narratives about immigration? (2) What role do otherness and sameness play in narratives about immigration? (3) What strategies do different content creators use to make their migratory narratives visible and to enter public discourse through social media? (4) What are the unique challenges and opportunities for migrant creators to participate in existing discourse about themselves? (5) What are the narratives conveyed and (self)representations portrayed and what are their implications for migrant communities and specific agents creating relevant content? In response to question (1), the shift from “stories told in digital spaces” to “stories shaped by the digital spaces they inhabit” is key. It is possible to suggest that the lightness and playfulness of both platforms are instrumentalized by various actors to inflict discrimination and othering, while other creators counter by establishing their sameness and belonging. Moreover, these instances of platformed storytelling are further understood when adding the narrative “essence” of the stories told by the different agents discussing migration, including migrants. In terms of the otherness-sameness balance, findings suggest that sameness is embedded in processes of othering. This is illustrated by creators expressing their affinity to certain ideas or communities to strengthen their arguments of difference and/or superiority. In this sense, and to afford credibility to their stances of otherness, these tiktokers and instagrammers often need to emphasize the existence of a community of support within narratives of sameness and belonging. To respond to the research question related to visibility, there is evidence of the creators’ search for success, which is reflected in strategies aimed at engagement and interaction. In this dissertation, three themes emerge as relevant in relation to visibility: the appropriation of migration-related stories/images; the inability of migrant narratives to fit within mainstream storylines; and the (un)expected strategies for algorithmic (in)visibility observed throughout the analysis. In response to the challenges and opportunities for immigrant creators, it is relevant to note that undocumented and other vulnerable immigrants face high stakes when creating content online. The fact that many of them create content regardless of the consequences invites reflection about the ways in which the privilege of content creation is configured. In this sense, creating online content about immigration —without thinking of the repercussions— is reserved mostly for nonimmigrants whose legal status and physical safety are not on the line.